The Advantages and Disadvantages of Getting a Car When You Turn 16

Talk to almost any 15 year old kid, and they will tell you that they want a car for their sixteenth birthday. That could be one of the greatest things to ever happen to them, but is it a good idea?

Advantages

Freedom. For most kids, having a car means having the freedom to go to friends houses, going out to lunch, going to the mall, and countless other things. This is great for a lot of kids that do not want their parents driving them to friend’s houses or to school, because they think it is not cool or something. Also, they can drive themselves to save their parents trouble, or when their parents simply cannot take them somewhere. Kids will want to go out to lunch or dinner with friends and not have their parents have to take them. So having a car at sixteen years old is like having the world in the palm of your hands for most kids.

Personality. Well, your mom’s car doesn’t really let people know what you are actually like when they see you driving. You can add personal touches to your car that just scream your name, and always have your favorite music playing when you turn on the stereo. Put fuzzy dice in the mirror, fancy seat covers, whatever you want! It’s all yours. My friend put a Flowmaster muffler on his truck, and it perfectly describes who he is.

Go Where YOU Want to Go. When you want to go to your friend’s house, you don’t have to bug your parents. Parents, you don’t have to worry about hauling your kids and all of their friends from place to place. That makes your schedule really busy, especially fitting that in with work, and meals. How stressful! Kids with cars can go places even when their parents are not home. Also, during lunch at school, kids can go places at lunch and not be stuck in the cafeteria eating lunch.

Disadvantages

Insurance. Yes it’s true – insurance for sixteen year old kids is extremely expensive, and not every family can afford it. Insurance for sixteen year old boys is even more expensive than for girls. To help with this, if your son or daughter gets good grades in school, then the insurance company can trust them more not to get in a wreck, get a ticket, etc. So a good student cuts insurance costs, so you can afford other things as well. When your child actually has a car under their name, the price also goes way up. This does depend on what make, model, and year the car is, but those things aside, it will be more expensive. Find ways with your insurance agent to get as many discounts as possible.

Cars are NOT cheap. That’s right, cars ain’t cheap! Finding a good, safe car for your kid to drive at a reasonable price is not easy at all. Add the cost of the car on top of the insurance cost and you have huge bills flooding your mailbox in no time. Cars at decent prices can be found on craigslist any day of the week! Just make sure the car is in good shape, has low miles, and runs well! No, you won’t find good cars dirt cheap, but you will find good prices. See if you have any friends or family members looking to sell a car, and see what kind of deal they can give you. Just do your research and you will find a good cheap car.

Trust. One of the most important questions you will ever ask yourself when deciding whether or not you will buy your son or daughter a car is “Can I trust them?” Well that is completely up to you and your kid. Think about how much money you will spend on the car, and if you can trust them with something that expensive. Sixteen year old drivers get in wrecks all the time, because they think they can do anything in their car. (I would know. I am sixteen years old. :) ) Can you trust your new driver with an investment this big?

No, I didn’t get a car when I turned sixteen, but I did get to drive a relative’s car to school for a week. I got pretty lonely driving by myself, but it was still awesome. Going to lunch and not riding with a friend was a blast. However, I was not terribly sad when I had to give the car back. Now when my dad’s car would usually sit at the airport, I get to drive it. Fun stuff. I will get my own car someday…

Did you get a car when you turned 16?

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Comments 22 comments

Parker-- you sound like a pretty sensible teen driver. You make some very good points here. It takes some time to build up your confidence and your parents' confidence in you. Good luck, and be careful not to worry your mom. (Sorry for the 'advice'-- I still remember worrying about my sons. Moms can't help it.)

parkerk393 7 years ago from Arlington, Texas Author

Thank you so much! I try to be. :)

johnb0127 7 years ago from TX

Great job man! I got a Bugatti Veyron when I turned 16 last January. I wrecked it the next day, but my daddy bought me a new Ferrari Enzo. Not really. Didn't happen. The closet thing I have to my own car is my riding lawnmower :(.

Good job. Keep those hubs a'comin!

--John

LondonGirl 7 years ago from London

16 is pretty young - here you can't even start to learn until you are 17.

Giving a 16 year old a brand new car seems quite vulgar, to me.

linjingjing 7 years ago

Interesting article

parkerk393 7 years ago from Arlington, Texas Author

LondonGirl - A little young maybe, we can get our driving permits when we turn 15! Hey, I'm not complaining ;)

linjingjing - Thank you very much I'm glad you enjoyed it.

BardScribe 7 years ago from Iowa

Hey, Parker...

You have shown far more common sense at 16 than perhaps some so-called "adults" that I've known have done.

LondonGirl--actually, not learning to drive till age 17 is quite sensible. Besides, if one is in London, with all the double-decker busses and cabs, why would one need to learn to drive at all, except to get away to the country? ;-)

LondonGirl 7 years ago from London

Not all British people live in London, you know!

parkerk393 7 years ago from Arlington, Texas Author

Thanks BardScribe! :)

Single Mama 7 years ago

I got my first car on my 1st day of college. And I still have it ten years later! It's a Toyota.

KCC Big Country 7 years ago from Central Texas

I think having a vehicle is almost a necessity here in Texas. Things are a bit spread out. The nearest Wal-mart is 15 miles away. I don't think buying a 16 year old a NEW vehicle is that sensible. I had a hand-me-down '68 Chevrolet Impala when I was 16. The car was 10 years old. My 16 yr old daughter drives her grandpa's hand-me-down Nissan pick-up truck. She'd love to have a new vehicle. But, she's only had the vehicle since November and a classmate already knicked the front blinker lens trying to park next to her. Luckily her dad was able to replace the lens and bulb for under $30. Somehow it did $500 damage to the classmate's truck. Had that been a new car, we'd all have been upset. Learning to drive isn't just about knowing how to drive yourself....it's also the defensive part of driving. I keep reminding her that even though I trust HER driving, I'm not so sure about her classmates around her. I think she understands now.

parkerk393 7 years ago from Arlington, Texas Author

Mama - Ya Toyota makes a great car in my opinion.

KCC - I agree. Texans looove their cars. We drive everywhere! I also agree that giving a 16 year old a brand new car isn't very smart, because things incidents like what happened to your daughters car can happen way too easily in a high school parking lot. My parents say the same thing about trusting me driving, and not trusting the other drivers. Sadly, for me, I still do not have a car, but when my father goes out of town (which is quite often these days) I get to drive his car. So I sort of have an '02 Hyundai...

dick3 6 years ago

just kidding ur awesome ive tryna get a car 4-ever

australia_girl 5 years ago

i wish our driving age was at 16!!! over here u cant drive until your 18!!!!

jayesh mishra 5 years ago

hey iam not interested in cars instead i prefer bikes for boys like suzuki gsx-r 1000

areej 4 years ago

kg jlj ilg

Ennis Orvienne 4 years ago

It is too young to ride that vehicle. By the way, you are really good at making this article. Keep it up at good work!

Nour Hasan 4 years ago

nice 1! keep it up!:P:)

arrameamonogy 3 years ago

My partner and i used to receive high on life but of late I've truly piled up some sort of amount of resistance.